Gu Patrol is 4 x 4 of the year

Add up the scores, you'll be surprised to see the Landcruiser had the highest score.

IFS isn't 'girly' nor is it going to affect offroad performance all that greatly, it is yet another myth in the 4wd world.

Steve

what can one say perfect choice.
the only people who will disagree will of course be landcruiser owners.
ps im only kidding
back by popular demand
:-)

I simply never want to own a fourby that is IFS. Simple as that. I would prefer leaf springs than IFS.

And IMHO the Nissan 4.2 deserves recognition becuase stock standard it will travel all over oz and back hundres of times. Its a capable, proven and reliable vehicle with good carrying capacity, and for me thats what a fourby is all about.

Sean

I own an 80 series t/d and enjoy the articulation of the front end. If people believe that the IFS front end is anywhere near as capable then they are mistaken. I want nothing more than to upgrade into a 100 in about a year prefferably the t/d because it is a great motor, but it is too low and I have seen them have trouble over washouts that I crawl over. Often times when crossong ruts with an IFS 100 series of a mate I see a wheel in the air and lots of rear wheel spin where I walk over the same obsticle. I do have a 2-3 inch suspension lift but expect I would have a lot better articulation and capability before I put the aftermarket suspension in than the standard IFS.

If you want a fwd that doesn't handle like a car but fairly close to it, get IFS. It will still be only in between a good off road (not including gravel, read "outback road") and a semi decent car. If you want a fwd for what it can do and get you up that rutted hill go beam axles. I bet many-most fwdrivers find places that they cannot go and wish they could that are not even close to extreme and I believe that you need wheels on the ground to get you there. I am only hoping Toyota gives the options in the future but know the premium models will have the road going and soft roading in mind. What a shame.

The mighty Defender won the off road section of the test and easily had the best wheel articulation.

That's what matters for me! :)

I would have like to see the live axle deisel 100 series (GXL) tested. I've got one and love it and was really dissapointed not to see it tested nor the troopie. Why only test the IFS do they think Toyota only produce one model???? Not so!

4x4 monthly biased? What a load of horse-siht!

READ the article. They used OBJECTIVE testing methadologies. Same as with everything they do. (Take the snatch strap comparo for example!)

It is a simple engineering fact that the landcruiser IFS is just not up to the job in the same way as the Patrol front end. It physically can't be due to it being lower, not cross-linked and too rigid for any 4x4 situation. The facts are that you have to drive the truck harder to do the same work, when compared to the same 4x4 without IFS.

The magazine compared unmodified trucks, in real life situations and came out with an objective and factual result. If it was me, I would never consider the Landcruiser to be better than a Patrol, due to the fact that the Toyota company still insists that the best location for a spare wheel is UNDER the car!

Quiet simply, you can't satisfy everyone, but please make sure that you understand what they are trying to test, be OBJECTIVE and pick the best for your driving requirements.

Being that I own a GUII 3.0 Patrol (fairly modified) and drive a work-supplied IFS Landcruiser (fairly modded too!), I must say that I much prefer the Patrol's off-road capabilties, but the Landcruiser is nicer in the build-quality department.

I keep smacking the front-end in on the cruiser......

Also remember one magazine in SOFT Sand got a mighty 54ltrs to 100klms with the 4.8!

What an engine!

Bring on the 5.6 V8 Diesel from American Nisasn, keep coils, and destroy Yota forever...

Objective??? I'm objective!!! Very objective!!! Honest!!
But seriously folks... Australian 4X4 monthly is my favourite off road mag... I own a subscription to it!! I love the articles.. I love the fact that you or I can get our trucks on the Drivers Profiles page.. or even as a featured article! But Biased???? Of course they are!!! Very... Toyota's rule over there! And why??? One reason... and it has nothing to do with IFS... It's to do with the superior build quality..... But BEFORE everyone jumps on me for this... think about it... across the entire range of Toyota product.. from the Corolla (can you still buy them new?) to the top-of-the-line 100 series they are the best built japanese car! There in lie the reason for their biasness (Is that a real word??) And anything they give Patrol (or Disco or Paj or whatever) it is given grudgingly. Remember, the opinions expressed about trucks/products/fridges/snatch straps is just that.... THEIR opinion!!!!!!!!!

I dont understand what all the fuss is about . I love my cruiser and I love my riggid front axle . When it comes time to update the cruise , Ill either purchase a Patrol , if i want some luxury , or I'll purchase a standard Cruiser that still comes with a riggid front end and no constant 4x4 . Guys if you want a cruiser v8 with a few extral . Order a standard and ask them to fit what you want . At the end of the day it might cost a couple thousand more , but what a beast you will have . I agree with Truckster on the front IFS , works great on the black top , but i wouldnt be caught dead in the bush with one . Another point I may add , someone mentioned that it costs the same to modify a 1fs , 2 shocks 2 springs they mentioned. Please help me here , where are there springs in the front of a IFS ? isnt there torsion bars instead ?? i think there are a million treads here with problems with these things .Venus Bay

Still stock standard, still rescueing modified GQ's, still enjoying IFS, still greater range, still cruising.....

...or maybe it is just the driver!

JD

Didn't like the fuel economy on the Patrols though.Just Do It!

Can't you still buy RFS 100 series in GXL 1HZ diesel form, as well as the standard wagon? That would be ok with some mods to the engine. The old 4.2 TD nissan would be fine with some power up work, a la what they should have done anyway. I don't care - buy what you like!Russell S
Prado RV6